The table below gives details about who owned and occupied the house. The sources for information vary; the records pre 1800 are mainly manor court rolls. Every time a property changed hands, even between family members, the transaction had to be recorded at the manorial court. The names of those who surrendered and those who were admitted and the entry fines they paid were written in the rolls of parchment by the clerk. An entry fine was paid to the lord of the manor and the new owner was given a written copy of the transaction, hence the term copyhold.
All records were in abbreviated medieval latin until 1752 except for a short period during the commonwealth between 1650 and 1660.Freehold property is rarely mentioned but can sometimes be found in the manor rentals. It is difficult to trace the history of a house as addresses are never given ad therefore the only way is to use the owners name or very occasionally the name of the house.
Post 1800 there are many more sources of information although actual addresses are not used until mid 20th century. One method of identifying a house in the records is by the description of the land that went with it or the annual rent paid to the lord of the manor which often didn’t change over a hundred years.
The table is arranged over five columns. The first gives the year of the record and the second is the source document sometimes with a reference number. The next two columns record the transfer of ownership and the occupier of the property. Click on the names to link to the people database. Sometimes there is no link to the database so go to the people page on the top navigation bar and simply type in the name you are searching for. The search function returns all documents where the name searched for appears in that document. Click on a name match to view the document in which that name appears. When viewing a record that contains other names, it is possible to perform a new search on that name by clicking on the name link.
The last column shows information about the property and any comments.
| date | source | owner/buyer | occupier | comment |
| 1642 | Tax to relieve British army in Ireland | George Mann | living in Pirton | |
| 1644 | Doddingselles Manor Court book/HALS | Matthew Ansell transferred ownership to William Ansell | Elizabeth Ansell | Cottage. Elizabeth is Matthew’s widow and William is his son and heir |
| 1649 | Doddingselles Manor Court book/HALS | William Ansell transferred ownership to George Mann | Messuage. The Land Of Joseph Ansell On West, Edward Tapsheire On East | |
| 1663 | Hearth Tax/ National Archives | George Man | George Man 1 hearth | |
| 1663 | Doddingselles Manor Court book/HALS | George Mann | new cottager | |
| 1670 | Rental/ HALS | George Mann | ||
| 1677 | Doddingselles Manor Court book/HALS | George Mann transferred ownership to Mary Mann | messuage Near The House Of Joseph Ansell 3 roods | |
| 1683 | Doddingselles Manor Court book/HALS | Mary Mann transferred ownership to Mary Mann | Mary Mann | Messuage. Near The House Of Joseph Ansell 3 roods till the marryage of Anne Grudgefield, kinswoman & George Hobbs, after Mary’s death house to go to George & Anne and their heirs. |
| 1697 | Doddingselles Manor Court book/HALS | George Hobbs | George Hobbs | Messuage. Near The House Of Joseph Ansell with 3 roods of ground George Hobbs suffers a recovery |
| 1710 | Doddingselles Manor Court book/HALS | George Hobbs transferred ownership to Robert Primate | George Hobbs | Cottage. George Hobbs lost the house because the conditions of the surrender were broken |
| 1713 | Doddingselles Manor Court book/HALS | Robert Primate transferred ownership to Francis Primate | Anne Hobbs | Cottage. Anne is George Hobbs widow. Francis Primate is Robert Primates eldest son |
| 1715 | Doddingselles Manor Court book/HALS | Francis Primate transferred ownership to George Hobbs | George Hobbs | Cottage. |
| 1763 | Doddingselles Manor Court book/HALS | George Hobbs transferred ownership to John Hobbs | Samuel Cox | Cottage. |
| 1763 | Doddingselles Manor Court book/HALS | John Hobbs transferred ownership to Francis Crouch | Samuel Cox | Cottage. conditional surrender |
| 1789 | Doddingselles Manor Court book/HALS | John Hobbs transferred ownership to Henry Ward | William Squire | Cottage. |
| 1790 | Doddingselles Manor Court book/HALS | John Hobbs transferred ownership to Henry Ward | William Squire | Cottage. John Hobbs senior is a shopkeeper and he leaves to his eldest son. |
| 1807 | Doddingselles Manor Court book/HALS | Henry Ward transferred ownership to George Arnold Hailey | William Squire | Cottage. |
| 1809 | Doddingselles Manor Court book/HALS | George Arnold Hailey transferred ownership to William Cherry | William Squire | Cottage. |
| 1811 | Pre enclosure plan/Hofton | William Cherry | William Cherry | Cottage. |
| 1818 | Enclosure award/HALS | William Cherry | house and garden 35 perch | |
| 1834 | Hertfordshire Quarter Sessions/HALS | William Cherry | 09 Dec 1834 conviction; Poaching; defendant | |
| 1834 | Hertfordshire Petty Sessions/HALS | William Cherry | 9 Dec 1834 summary conviction; Poaching; defendant | |
| 1837 | Register of electors/HALS | Edward Cherry | house and land Near Burge End | |
| 1838 | Register of electors/HALS | Edward Cherry | house and land Near Burge End | |
| 1838 | Hertfordshire Quarter Sessions/HALS | William Cherry | 27 Mar 1838 conviction; Assault; defendant | |
| 1838 | Hertfordshire Petty Sessions/HALS | William Cherry | 27 Mar 1838 summary conviction; Assault; defendant | |
| 1839 | Register of electors/HALS | Edward Cherry | house and land Near Burge End | |
| 1840 | Register of electors/HALS | Edward Cherry | house and land Near Burge End | |
| 1841 | Census 1841 | Edward Cherry | Near Burge End Edward Cherry – Bricklayer age 50 | |
| 1841 | Register of electors/HALS | Edward Cherry | house and land Near Burge End | |
| 1841 | Census 1841 | John Pearce | Burge End John Pearce – Agricultural labourer age 70 | |
| 1842 | Register of electors/HALS | Edward Cherry | house and land Near Burge End | |
| 1844 | Register of electors/HALS | Edward Cherry | house and land Near Burge End | |
| 1845 | Register of electors/HALS | Edward Cherry | house and land Near Burge End | |
| 1846 | Register of electors/HALS | Edward Cherry | house and land Near Burge End | |
| 1847 | Register of electors/HALS | Edward Cherry | house and land Near Burge End | |
| 1849 | Register of electors/HALS | Edward Cherry | house and land Near Burge End | |
| 1850 | Register of electors/HALS | Edward Cherry | house and land Near Burge End | |
| 1851 | Register of electors/HALS | Edward Cherry | house and land Near Burge End | |
| 1851 | Census 1851 | William Cherry | William Cherry – Ag Lab age 78 | |
| 1851 | Census 1851 | William Pearce | William Pearce – Ag Lab age 38 | |
| 1852 | Register of electors/HALS | Edward Cherry | house and land Near Burge End | |
| 1853 | Register of electors/HALS | Edward Cherry | house and land Near Burge End | |
| 1854 | Register of electors/HALS | Edward Cherry | house and land Near Burge End | |
| 1855 | Register of electors/HALS | Edward Cherry | house and land Near Burge End | |
| 1857 | Register of electors/HALS | Edward Cherry | house and land Near Burge End | |
| 1861 | Census 1861 | Charlotte Pearce | Charlotte Pearce – Plaiter age 54 | |
| 1861 | Census 1861 | David Cherry | David Cherry – Shepherd age 40 | |
| 1863 | Rates/HALS | William Cherry | cottage rateable val. £5 0s 0d | |
| 1871 | Census 1871 | David Cherry | David Cherry – Ag lab (shepherd) age 60 | |
| 1871 | Census 1871 | Charlotte Pearce | Charlotte Pearce – Strawplaiter age 66 | |
| 1877 | Sanitation report/HALS | John Walker | Charles Pearce | 1/2cottages 1/2cottages with Garden. Well in field, drainage-None. 2 inmates sharing 1 living room, 1 sleeping room and shared privy/2 |
| 1877 | Sanitation report/HALS | John Walker | James Cherry | 1/2cottages 1/2cottages with do. Well in field, drainage-None. 1 inmate sharing 1 living room, 1 sleeping room and shared privy/2 |
| 1879 | School admission register/HALS | George Handscombe | Elizabeth Handscombe born 18/4/1872 enrolled 1879 | |
| 1881 | School admission register/HALS | George Handscombe | Down Town. Albert Handscombe born 21/5/1878 enrolled 4/4/1881 | |
| 1881 | Census 1881 | George Hanscombe | George Hanscombe – Agricultural labourer age 38 | |
| 1883 | School admission register/HALS | George Handscombe | Arthur Handscombe enrolled 1883 | |
| 1884 | School admission register/HALS | George Handscombe | Near Burge End Frisby Handscombe born 4/7/1880 enrolled 5/5/1884 | |
| 1886 | School admission register/HALS | George Hanscombe | Pirton Albert Hanscombe born 21/5/1878 enrolled 1886 | |
| 1886 | School admission register/HALS | George Hanscombe | Down Town. Charles Hanscombe born 1884 enrolled 1886/87 | |
| 1888 | School admission register/HALS | George Handscombe | Pirton field work age exemption Frisby Handscombe born 4/7/1880 enrolled 1888 Last school – Pirton Infants, | |
| 1888 | School admission register/HALS | George Hanscombe | Pirton age exemption straw plait Annie Hanscombe born 21/9/1880 enrolled 1888 Last school – Pirton Infants, | |
| 1889 | School admission register/HALS | George Handscombe | Down Town. Jane Handscombe born 7/12/1886 enrolled 1889/90 | |
| 1890 | School admission register/HALS | George Handscombe | Down Town. Freddy Handscombe born 18/4/1888 enrolled 1890/91 | |
| 1891 | Census 1891 | George Hanscombe | Near Burge End. George Hanscombe – Traction Engine Driver age 48 | |
| 1892 | School admission register/HALS | George Handcombe | Near Burge End. Charles Handcombe born 13/5/1884 enrolled 1892 | |
| 1893 | School admission register/HALS | George Handscombe | Rose Cottage Down Town. Emma Handscombe born /4/1890 enrolled 1893/94 | |
| 1894 | School admission register/HALS | George Hanscombe | Pirton. Jane Hanscombe born 7/12/1886 enrolled 1894 | |
| 1894 | School admission register/HALS | George Handscombe | Down Town. Sidney Handscombe born 1892 enrolled 1894/95 | |
| 1896 | School admission register/HALS | George Hanscombe | Pirton. Freddy Hanscombe born 18/4/1888 enrolled 1896 | |
| 1896 | School admission register/HALS | George Handscombe | Down Town. Frank Handscombe born 1893 enrolled 1896/97 | |
| 1899 | School admission register/HALS | George Handscombe | Pirton. Emma Handscombe born 21/4/1890 enrolled 1899 | |
| 1900 | School admission register/HALS | George Handscombe | Near Burge End. Sidney Handscombe born 2/5/1892 enrolled 1900 | |
| 1900 | School admission register/HALS | George Handscombe | Pirton. Joseph Handscombe born 16/6/1896 enrolled 23/4/1900 | |
| 1901 | School admission register/HALS | George Handscombe | Near Burge End. Frank Handscombe born 19/12/1893 enrolled 1901 | |
| 1901 | Census 1901 | George Handscombe | Near Burge End George Handscombe – Engine driver age 57 | |
| 1903 | School admission register/HALS | George Handscombe | Pirton. Hedley Handscombe born 19/1/1900 enrolled 16/3/1903 | |
| 1904 | School admission register/HALS | George Handscombe | Pirton. Joseph Handscombe born 16/6/1896 enrolled 1904 | |
| 1908 | School admission register/HALS | George Handscombe | Pirton. record showed birth day as 1, month as 19 Hedley Handscombe born 19/1/1900 enrolled 1908 Last school – Pirton Infants, | |
| 1909 | Register of electors/HALS | George Handscombe | dwelling house Near Burge End | |
| 1910 | Register of electors/HALS | George Handscombe | dwelling house Near Burge End | |
| 1910 | Rates/HALS | Charles Waller | George Handscombe | Cottage. Near Burge End 28 perch gross val. £5 0s rateable val. £3 15s |
| 1911 | Census 1911 | George Handscombe | Near Burge End 5 rooms 7 in household George Handscombe Farm Labourer – age 68 | |
| 1911 | Census 1911 | Martha Handscombe | Near Burge End 5 rooms 7 in household Martha Handscombe – age 51 | |
| 1911 | Census 1911 | Emma Handscombe | Near Burge End 5 rooms 7 in household Emma Handscombe – age 21 | |
| 1909 | Register of electors/HALS | Charles Waller | house Near Burge End | |
| 1910 | Register of electors/HALS | Charles Waller | house Near Burge End | |
| 1911 | Census 1911 | Sidney Handscombe | Near Burge End 5 rooms 7 in household Sidney Handscombe Farm Labourer – age 19 | |
| 1911 | Census 1911 | Frank Handscombe | Near Burge End 5 rooms 7 in household Frank Handscombe Farm Labourer – age 17 | |
| 1911 | Register of electors/HALS | Charles Waller | house Near Burge End | |
| 1912 | Register of electors/HALS | Charles Waller | house Near Burge End | |
| 1911 | Census 1911 | Joseph Handscombe | Near Burge End 5 rooms 7 in household Joseph Handscombe Farm Labourer – age 14 | |
| 1911 | Census 1911 | Hedley Handscombe | Near Burge End 5 rooms 7 in household Hedley Handscombe School – age 11 | |
| 1912 | Register of electors/HALS | George Handscombe | dwelling house Near Burge End | |
| 1935 | Original rates/Hofton | F M Taylor | Leonard Dawson | cottage and premises gross val. 9 rateable val. 5 |
| 1939 | National Registration Identity Cards/National Archives | Leonard Dawson | Shillington Rd married DOB 23/11/1902 crane driver Age 37 | |
| 1939 | National Registration Identity Cards/National Archives | Hilda Dawson | Shillington Rd married DOB 14/6/1906 Unpaid domestic duties Age 33 | |
| 1939 | National Registration Identity Cards/National Archives | Rita Dawson | Shillington Rd single at school Age 16 |
